Method of sterilizing canned goods



W. B. FENN.

METHOD 0F STERILIZING CANNED GOODS.

- AFPI-NATION FILED JULY 151 1920.

1,378,531? Patented May 17, 192K.

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WILLIAM B. FENN-,fOF NEW YORK, N.' Y'.

` METHOD oF s'rnmmzwV ANNED Goons.

VTo all whom. t may. conce-m.'

vBe it known that I, WILLIAM B. FENN, .a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have made a certain new anduseful Invention in Methodof Sterilizing Canned Goods, .of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a Vprocess of sterilizing canned goods such as canned fruits, vegetablesor the like.

Theobject of the invention is to provide a new process which is simple and economical forcommercial use and efficient in operation for sterilizing canned goods.

Further objects of the invention will appear more full hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the process offtreating a can and its contents to sterilize the same, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown by the accom,- panying drawing, and finally' pointedvout in the appended claims.'

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in sec-l tion of the apparatus employedA 1n one` method of carrying out the process of my invention. y

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view in front elevation, partly broken away, of a modified arrangement of apparatus employed in accordance with my process.

Fig. 3 is a broken detall view showing a modified form of can cover which can be em has heretofore been employed in the canningl industry and necessarily a cheaper and more economical manner with the same or greater efficiency and effectiveness in securingperfeet sterilization.` The exact process of my invention consists in placing a canin a retort, or the like, which is preferably sealed, to form a steam chamber, with the can filled with the material to be sterilized, with some .means provided for allowing ingress of the steam within the retort into the can. The steam is supplied to the retort preferably under pressure, and the ingress of the steam from the retort may be effected in any suitable manner, for example, -by leaving an.

opening in some part of the can or by loosely Aattaching the can cover.. In each lnstance,

retort in an inverted position or on its side.

After the steam has been lallowed to thoroughly agitate and sterilize the contents of the. can the can is then turned right side up either with the steam under pressure still in the retort or after the steam has been exhausted slowly enough to prevent the liquid in the can from blowing ofi". The can is then permanently sealed, or in the instances given as examples above, the hole is soldered or otherwise closed up, or the cover isl completely crimped on the can. While Iam unable to advance the theory as to why this method of sterilizingl canned material is more effective than the methods now employed, the fact remains that it has proven to be so, and it is obvious that it is a much more simple process and lmore economical of czrrying out than the processes now emp o e eferring to the drawing, I have illustrated several forms\of apparatus employed in utilizing the process of my invention wherein l designates the steam retort into which steamis admitted through a pipe line 2, which pipe line is 'controlled by'valve, not shown, in any suitable well known manner. The steam is exhausted from the retort l through pipe line 3 controlled similarly by valves in any suitable well known manner. The retort is provided with a removable base 4 on which the can is mounted. In the form shown the can 5 is provided with a cover 6 loosely attached thereto and the can is inspeciacaaon 'of Lettersratent. Patented May 17, 19215 i IApplicationlled July 15, 1920. Serial No. 396,559. i i' I t serted in the retort in an inverted position in this instance, although as above set forth it can be placed on its side aswell. Steam is admitted through line .2 into the retort a sufficient length of time to thoroughly sterilize the material contained in the can and is then exhausted. The base 4 is then withdrawn and the can righted and the cover completely attached thereto. In place of the loosely applied cover 6 the can 5 may' be provided wlth an opening 7 at vanydesired point, for example, .in the cover 6, which opening may be closedv after the can has been .righted into its upright position. A

In Fig. QI show onemeans of carrying my process out where it is desired to simultaneously sterilize a number of cans. In this instance the retort 1 is rotatably mounted between bearings or journal posts 8. The journals in thisinstance are hollow to admit the steam inlet pipe 2 and the exhaust pipe 3 therethrough. The retort is provided with a removable cover 9 to permit the cans 5 being placed inthe retortaccording to the size ofthe retort and cans, or as desired. The

Aretort is then placed in an inverted position and steam admitted through the pipe line 2. After the steam has thoroughly agitated the contents of the cans and has approximately equalized the pressure within and without the lcans the pressure is exhausted through pipe line 3, the retort rotated to its upright position, the cans removed and completely sealed as above described.

One thing that I have discovered which I believe will tend to explain the phenomenal results obtained by means of the process of my invention is that best results are obtained when the can is completely sealed while steam under pressure is still retained in the respective cans.

Many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the claims. Therefore what. I claim as. new and useful and ot my own invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. The process of sterilizing canned goods which consists in placing an unsealed can in a position other than its top-side up position, then subjecting the can and its contents to steam under pressure, so that the steamenters into the can and agitates the contents thereof, then shifting the can to its normal top-side up position. and finally completely sealing the can.

2. The process of sterilizing canned goods which consists in placing an unsealed can in a position other than its top-side up position within an inclosed chamber, then admitting steam under pressure into said chamber whereby the steam enters into the can and agitates the contents thereof, then shifting the can to its normal top side up position, and finally completely sealing the can.

3. The process of sterilizing canned goods which consists in placing an unsealed can in a position other than its top-side up position within an inclosed chamber, then admitting steam under pressure into said chamber whereby the steam enters into the can and agitates the contents thereof, then shifting the can to itsl normal top-side up position, then slowly exhausting the steam under pressure from said chamber, and finally i completely sealing` the can.

4. rThe process of sterilizing calmed goods which consists in placingr an unsealed can in an inverted position within an inclosed chamber, then admitting steam under pressure into the chamber whereby the steam' WILLIAM B. FENN. 

